How would a Milford Medical Center merger impact patient services?

Tom Benoit, The Milford Daily News
·3 min read

MILFORD — Milford Regional Medical Center's potential merger with Worcester-based UMass Memorial Health has led to feelings of both hope and concern in Milford and beyond.

The two hospitals announced late last month that they had signed a nonbinding agreement, called a letter of intent, that will allow them to explore a "proposed corporate affiliation." The move was approved by the boards of both hospitals, according to a joint news release.

Nurses at the Milford Regional are hoping a merger would result in not only a new commitment to the hospital, but also to its patients.

Nurses at the Milford Regional Medical Center hope a merger with UMass Memorial Health would result in not only a new commitment to the hospital, but also to its patients.
Nurses at the Milford Regional Medical Center hope a merger with UMass Memorial Health would result in not only a new commitment to the hospital, but also to its patients.

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In a statement to the Daily News, the co-chairs of Milford Regional Medical Center's bargaining committee for the nurses union, Sara Burton and Carrie Lill, said: “We hope the proposed merger would mean a renewed commitment to Milford Regional Medical Center as a full-service hospital. Just as we are always dedicated to our patients, we expect UMass Memorial would maintain the same high-quality local care available now to the Milford community at our hospital.”

Would merger mean loss of local control?

State Rep. Brian Murray, D-Milford, cautioned that such an arrangement could result in a loss of local control.

"The community could be facing a similar situation in the future as in Leominster with the recent loss of the birthing unit," Murray said in a statement.

UMass Memorial Health closed the inpatient maternity unit at one of its properties, HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital in Leominster, on Sept. 23.

State Rep. Brian Murray, D-Milford, is concerned that a merger between UMass Memorial Health and Milford Regional Medical Center could result in the Milford hospital losing local control.
State Rep. Brian Murray, D-Milford, is concerned that a merger between UMass Memorial Health and Milford Regional Medical Center could result in the Milford hospital losing local control.

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"From what I understand, both Milford Regional and UMass Memorial are now under the terms of a Letter of Intent to explore a potential corporate affiliation," Murray continued. "The key will be to see just how this corporate affiliation formalizes, assuming it does, in terms of the degree of discretion the administration of Milford Regional will have with local services. I imagine Milford Regional is looking toward the financial stability of the UMass system as a means of continued operation."

The nonbinding agreement signed by the two hospitals cites a health care landscape that has become challenging for Milford Regional to maintain its status as an independent community hospital, according to the release. The release also notes the lasting impacts of the pandemic and financial losses that have inhibited the community hospital's ability to act on necessary growth and expansion.

Milford Regional posted $17M loss during pandemic

During a remote community conversation held in March 2022, Milford Regional President and CEO Ed Kelly shared that the hospital faced an overall loss of $17 million from its operating budget during the first two years of the pandemic, though COVID-19 relief helped close the gap.

“Milford Regional has an outstanding reputation as a provider of high-quality health care for its community,” Dr. Eric Dickson, UMass Memorial Health's president and chief executive officer, said in a statement to the Daily News. "This proposed corporate affiliation will improve access to health care services for patients across Central Massachusetts. We look forward to continuing our discussions and are confident we can reach agreement in a way that meets shared goals and supports the continued success of Milford Regional.”

UMass Memorial Health CEO Dr. Eric Dickson said a corporate affiliation with Milford Regional Medical Center would "improve access to health care services for patients across Central Massachusetts."
UMass Memorial Health CEO Dr. Eric Dickson said a corporate affiliation with Milford Regional Medical Center would "improve access to health care services for patients across Central Massachusetts."

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Kelly added in that same release: "Building on the foundation of our outstanding team, high quality care, mature physician network and our supportive community, a future corporate affiliation with UMass Memorial Health would make it possible for us to move forward with necessary and strategic expansion, among other mutually beneficial opportunities, to continue to meet the growing needs of our community, locally."

The two hospitals are continuing their negotiations. Any agreement will meet certain key goals, according to the hospitals, including maintaining Milford Regional as the preferred provider in Greater Milford; retention and expansion in the number of Milford Regional employees; making capital investments to enhance services, equipment and care delivery; and maintaining clinical programs and services.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Milford officials concerned over proposed hospital merger